Apparatus for use in packing fruit and the like



Sept. -2 7, 1927.

G. H. THORNTON APPARATUS FOR USE IN PACKING FRUIT AND THE LIKE 2 sheets-shag 1 Filed Oct. 23. 1926 Zlwumtou v I I I 1,643,429 Sept 1927' G H. THORNTON APPARATUS FOR USE IN PACKING FRUIT AND THE LIKE Filed Oct. 23. 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 gnwnto'c ornfon Patented Sept. 27, 1927.

UNITED STATES 1,643,429 PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE H. THORNTQN, FATTEBSON, ILLINOIS.

APPARATUS FOR use IN rnonnve nnurr AND THE LIKE.

Application filed October 23, 1926. Serial No. 143,658.

This invention relates to apparatus for use in packing fruit and the like and it is primarily an object of the invention to provide an apparatus for removing a shelllike member or form from a basket or container employed in the packing operation.

Another object-of the invention is to provide an apparatus of this kind for removing a shell-like member or form from a basket or container employed in a method of packing fruit,.said means embodying a pulling mechanismengageable with the member or form and for holding the basket or container against strain imposed upon the member or form. 7 a

An additional object of the invention is to provide an apparatus of this kind adapted for use in connection with a method of packing fruit embodying a, facing plate and a shell-like member or form wherein the ap paratus operates to remove the form from within the basket or container comprised in the pack and which also serves to hold the facing plate against displacement during r suchremoval of the member or form.

The invention consists in the details of construction and 1n the combinatlon and arrangement'of the several parts of my im-;

proved apparatus for use in packing fruit and the like whereby certain important advantages are attained and the device renderedsimpler, less expensive and otherwise more convenient and advantageous for use,"

' ment, a second position of certain of the parts being indicated by broken lines;

Figure 2 is a view on anreduced scale partly in top plan and partly in section of the bench as herein employed; i

Figure 3 is a detailed sectional viewillus-r trating certain features of the form or shelllike member; f:

Figure at is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view illustrating in detail a portion of the apparatus and an assembly'of the pack, a second position of the form or shelllike member being indicated by broken lines; Figure 5 is a view in top plan of the form or shell-like member as herein disclosed;

Figure 6 is a fragmentary View in ele vation of the form or shell-like member Figure 7 is a fragmentary view partly in section and partly in side elevation of one of the double hooks and the lever. with which it is associated;

' Figure 8 is a view in front elevation of a double hook.

As disclosed in the accompanying drawings, F denotes a shell-like member or packing form comprising an elongated band 1 of saw blade steel or equivalent material, light in weight and easily bent or flexed to conform to the shape of the open end of a basket B or kindred receptacle. This band 1 has extending laterally therefromthe longitudinally spaced elongated fingers or blades 2.

The band l is adapted to be snugly engaged or formed within an annular ring 3 of a diameter substantially equal to the in-' side diameter of the basketB or the like, said band 1 being held to the ring 3. by rivets a or the/like. The inner face of the applied band 1 has secured thereto by-the rivets l orthe like a plurality of inwardly disposed brackets 5- preferably four in number and equidistant-1y spaced to serve as a retaining means for the facing plate-P to be hereinafter more particularly referred to. r

The ring 3 has its upper marginal portion defined by an inwardly disposed'strengthjening or reinforcing flange 6 and said ring at diametrically opposed points isprovided with pairs of upstanding lugs 7 Each pair of these lugs-.7 is connected by a pin 8 dis posed through thelugs to provide a connecting T or attaching medium; The facing plate P has one face a dished or concaved and this plate is adapted to fit snugly within the form F in close contact with the-brackets 5 hereinbefore referred to.

In pa-cking'a basket B or the like; with I facing plate B is "then placed within the A corrugated pad or the like may then be form F with its concave face a uppermost.

disposed upon said-face aof the plate P. A

layer of selected fruitv is then placedluponl 1 the concave facea of the plate P or the padthereon, if used, and a strap S is then tightly fitted around the form F, say about three inches below the upper ends of the blades 2 said strap forcing said blades inwardly or packing the same so that the top of the form placed upon the bench A will be contracted to have thediameter of the upper portion of the form F substantially the same as the diameter of the bottom of the basket B or container to be filled; The

form F is then filled with fruit and leveled off about one inch above the top of the form. The basket or container B is then placed over the upper portion of the filled form and after the strap S has been removed, the basket or container B is then forced down over the form F until the bottom of the basket is substantially in close contact with the uppermost layer of fruit and the basket is then inverted to bring the same into its normal posltion.

When inverted or in lts normal posltion inst referred to, the basket: B is arranged below a topfor head beam 9 disposed diago nallyand laterally across an end portion of the bench A andsupported at a desired posi tion thereabove by the uprights or standards 1O suitably securedto opposite sides of the bench A and at points spaced length wise of the bench. At its central portion the top or head beam 9 has bolted or otherwise secured thereto a pair of depending irons or brackets 11 between which is pivotally held by the pin 12 or the like' the upper end portion of an elongated rod or member 14. 1 The opposite or lower end portion of the rod or member 1a has bolted orotherwise se cured thereto the outstanding irons or brack ets 15'substantially coplanarwith the adjacent lower end of the member or rod 14.

These irons or brackets 15 are secured by bolts or the like to the central portion of a plate or block 16 preferably ofwood. i

1' After the basket or container Bhasbeen inverted or returned to" normal position it iszslightlytilted to permit the member or rod l t to be swungto bring the plate or block 16 to the central portion of the facing plate P. I I

.The upper margin oredge of the basket or container 13 then has operativelyengaged therewith the upstanding clamping members 17 pivotally connected with the bench A at opposite sides thereof, thepivoted port-ions of theseclamping members being provided with inwardly directed ar1n's18, the eXtremi-,, ties ofwhich being operatively engaged, as

at 19, with the inner end portion of a substantially horizontally disposed operating le ver 20 This lever 2Q at'a desired pointin termediate its ends is pivotally engaged,- as at 21; to tlie bench A. By pullingnpon the outer endportion ofthe lever 20 the clamp-- ing members 1'7 are caused to have" effective engagement with the upper portion or edge of the basket or container B to hold the basket or container 13 firmly to the bench A. The member or rod 14 at a predetermined point above its lower end has bolted or 1 2a is a double hook member H for engagement with a pin 8 hereinbefore referredto so that upon upward swinging movement of each ofsaid levers the form F will'be pulled out or Withdrawn.

After the form F has been withdrawn, the

levers 24 are held in their raised position by the hook members H carried by the member or rod 14 and said member orrod 14 is swung to one side of theffilledbasket or container B permitting the ready removal of the facing plate P to permit the desired application of a conventional basket or container lid or top. w

The form Fran be readily disengaged from the hook members H. Thls removal of the form F a from the hook members H may be-done immediately after the member or rod 14 has been swung to one side or later as preferred. h l Each of the double hooks- H comprises an intermediate connectingjmember 25 which engages a lever 24 from above andis rejceived within a box plate 26' arranged upon the upperfac'e of the lever 24 and held therein by a topplat'e 27, V V While I do not desire to limit myself to bench A should be preferably five feet long,

this connectio n; I find in practice that the sixteen inches high and eighteen inches wide and supported ateach corner portion by a le -528i v From the foregoing description it is thought to be obviousthat an apparatus foruse in packing fruit and the like constructed in accordance with my invention is parti'c ularly well adapted foruse by reason of the convenience and facility with which it may be assembled and operated, and it will also be obvious th'atmy invention is susceptible of some changeand modification without departing from the principles and spirit thereof and forthi'sreasonl "do" not wish to be understood as limiting myself to the precise arrangement and formation of the several parts herein shown in carrying out my inventionm practice" except as hereinafterclaimed.

Iclaimz- 1. In'combination with a shell-like meim terror holding the content placed within container with the member; and means engagcable with the member for Withdrawing the member from the container after said member and its content has been placed within the container.

2. In combination with a container and a content holding form for use in packing the container, an apparatus for removing the form from the filled container comprising a bench, means for clamping the container to the bench, and means for exerting pull upon the form to remove the form from the filled container.

3. An apparatus for removing a form used in packing a container comprising a bench upon which the filled container is placed, an elongated rod positioned above the bench, means coacting with the upper portion of the rod for supporting the rod for swinging movement, a member resting upon the content of the container and with which the rod engages, and means carried by the rod and engageable with the form for withdrawing the form from the container.

4-. an apparatus for withdrawing a form used in the packing of a container comprising a vertically disposed rod, means for pivotally supporting said rod, and means carried by the rod and engageable with the form for pulling said form from within the container.

5. An apparatus for withdrawing a form ally engaged with the rod, and means carried by the lever and engageable with the form for withdrawing the form upon swinging movement of the lever in one direction.

6. An apparatus for withdrawing a form.

used in the packing of a container comprising a vertically disposed rod, means for pivotally supporting the rod, a lever pivotally engaged withthe rod, means carried by the lever and engageable with the form for withdrawing the form upon swinging movement of the lever in one direction, and means for holding the lever against movement in the opposite direction.

An apparatus of the class described comprising an elongated member, means for supporting the same for swinging movement, and a pulling medium carried by the elongated member.

8. An apparatus of the class described comprising an elongated member, means for supporting the same for swinging movement, oppositely directed levers pivotallyengaged with the elongated member, and an attaching means carried by each of the levers.

In testimony whereof I hereunto affix my signature.

GEORGE H. THORNTON. 

